Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-10-28
LAEHAM Oh GREER COUNTY.
10 Writes to the President Asking Him t,
Withhold His Proclamation.

10 Writes to the President Asking Him TO
withhold His Proclamation.
Special to the Gazette.
WATERFORD, TEX Oct. 22.-Bfsey reading
the proclamation recommended by Comm!s.
sioner Sparb regarding the disputed territory
o. Greer county, which was contaiped In THE
GAZA TIE Of this morning, THE GAZETTE Cor
respondent called On Hon. :. w. Z. Laahan to
ascertain, If possible, his views In regard to the
action that will be taken in this question that
| IL Of such vital Importance 70 the state of
rR4as. As Is well known, Greer county is ont
of the richest counties in the state. Colonel
Lanham said OF course, it is I'm
but TINT he feels Eatisflet that when
the President Investigates the matter thorough
II that he VIII Withhold his proclamation.
Colonel Lanham stated that he had written
President Ctev land letter TO- day protesting
against the Executive proclsmati0n recoln-
mcnded by Comm. taeioner Sparks relative to
Greer County. snd by the Kindness Of Mr.. Lam
ham, THE GAZETTE reporter obtained a copy
of the letter which will explain his posit on.
SOPY OF THE LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT.
WEATHERFORD, TEN, Oct. % 1887.
The President:
L notice IN the morning Fort Worth GAZETTE
& dispatch from Washington tosthe effect that
"Com siasionergSparks Of the General! Land
Office in letter to the Score AIRY of the Interior
has recommended that the PresidenG be re-
quested to issue an executive proclaim alton
warning all persons whatsoever claiming to
actss offlCers of Greer county, Texas, brother
wiae, against selling, or atte pting 10 sell or
dispose of any of she lands west of the North
Fork of R-d river, in the southwestern part OF
the Indian Territory ,hor attempting to eSercise
any authority over the same in contra.
diction of the authority of the United
States. This request Is made upon In
formation that certain persons claiming that
the lands in question belong to the state of
Texas, have attempted to exercise jurisdiction
over the same as county officers of the state of
Texas" Ieeg to s"bmis that the
controversy between Texas a the United
States as to the ownership of the territory re-
ferred to is one of long standing. Texas claim
ing that the boundary line between Texas and
the Indian Territory is the north FORK of Red
river, and the United States claiming that the
south fork IS the boundary line. This Cl3im
has been asserted upon the part of Texas for
many years with great earnestness and conf
dence, and by different executives of the state.
General Sam Houston, as Governor of Texas,
believed ana held that the land lying between
Texas. This opinion was subsequently
concQrred IN by GOveIno Rob rts (Who de-
l;vered a special message TO the Legislature
upon the subject), and also By Governor Ire
land. The State Legislature created a county
compr'si g the territory in question, knoWn
and designated upon the maps of Texas as
Greer county. iris county has been fully
organized. wish ali the machinery OF jurisdic-
ton In full operation, and many people haVe,in
good faith, settled therein, relying upon the
title of Texae, and regarding 1t as an integral
portion of the state.
The Forty eighth Congress passed law pro-
viding for the appointment of a commits Ion on
the par of the United States to cooperate with
a com n ission on the part Of Texas for the as
certainment of the BOUNDARY line In dispute
The respective com MISSIONS were ap
pointed and made Investigation. The
law provided that the report of said com
mission should be made to tse SecreJsry of the
Interior, and by him transmitted to Congress.
TSee Laws Forty eighth Congress, page 296.
This report has not as yet been transmitted TO
Congress, so far as AN advised. Thejurisdic-
tion now asserted by Texas over Greer co7lty
Is not essentially different from that which the
state haesexercised for several years, and do
not believe there exists any necessity for
the action requested of the President
This brief statement as to the history and
status OF the subject will, trust, be sufficient
to suggest the propTiety and importance of the |
matter being held IN allegiance by the Presi- |
dent. As Repre- sentative of the Congressional |
district In which Greer county is situsted, hav- |
ing had parI In the federal legislation relating
thereto, and beins, In measure, familiar With
the situation, l have considered It my cuty 70 |.
request that the executive proclamation REG L
commended by Commissioner Sparks be wish -sE
held. have tbs honor to be. vita great coR>6
sideratien, your obetient servant, 81
S.w. T. LANKAE
It Is well known fact that Colonel Lsn6km
has given this question much attentions dsring
his service In Congress ana fully believes that
Texas is entitled to the territory tnafspute, \.
and his constituents will no doubt appreciate Il
bis untiring efforts and faithful services to Sc
cure 70 them what he earnestly believes to be
their rights.